Hydrophone selecting system



1947. J. B. RETALLACK 2,414,123

HYDROPHONE SELECTING SYS TEM Filed Nov. s, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 3 FIG.

I l l 'r 5- "\AQ 6 'AVAVAJ 5 g 1 l l N 1 g pgagagp a) g) a g lNVENTOR By ETALAAC/f ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1947. J. B. RETALLACK HYDROPHONE SELECTING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 8, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w wt INVENTOR J B. RETALLACK BY jvlmfic wlj A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROPHONE SELECTING SYSTEM John B. Retallack, New York, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 8, 1943, Serial No. 509,449

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hydrophone selecting systems. More particularly, this invention is a hydrophone selecting system in which selection is effected by discriminating between both the polarities and magnitudes of electromotive forces impressed on conductors connecting a signaling station and a plurality of hydrophones.

In the system herein a number of hydrophones, not exceeding nine, are spaced along a two-conductor submarine cable. Any one of eight of the nine hydrophone stations may be selectively connected to a signaling station through the twoconductor cable by impressing battery of a particular polarity and voltage of a particular one of two magnitudes on a particular one of the two conductors. The ninth hydrophone station is normally connected to the signaling station when no battery or voltage conditions are impressed on the conductors and is disconnected when battery of either polarity and voltage of either magnitude is impressed on the conductors.

The invention may be understood from the following description when read with reference to the associated drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows the left-hand portion of the circuit of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the right-hand portion of the circuit of the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the selecting mechanism at a hydrophone station.

Refer to Figs. 1 and 2. The conductors extending to the right-hand margin of Fig. 1 connect to the conductors extending to the left-hand margin of Fig. 2 in corresponding positions.

In Figs. 1 and 2, nine hydrophone stations numbered l to 9 are spaced along a two-conductor submarine cable It, which is enclosed in an impervious sheath I I, which is grounded at I2. The two-conductor cable is connected through a transformer I3 to a signaling station I4. The secondary of the transformers comprises two windings I5 and I6, the inner terminals of which are connected through a condenser IT. The inner terminals of winding I5 and I6 are connected also to a selecting station I8. At the selecting station there are eight keys 2! to 2B. The individual operation of keys 2| to 28 effects the individual selection of the eight hydrophone stations I to 8 by impressing either full or reduced positive battery 30 or full or reduced negative battery 32 on the individual selecting apparatus sealed in the submarine cable at each hydrophone station.

The manner in which the system per Figs. 1 and 2 functions will now be described in detail.

Refer now to Figs. 1 and 2. When the contacts of key 2| are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through negative battery 32, lamp 33, resistance 20, contacts of key 2|, winding I6 of the secondary of transformer I3, conductor Illa, coil 40 of inductance 9|], windings of relays 42, 43, 44, 45 in series and rectifier 46 to ground I2. The rectifier 46 is a, copper-oxide rectifier or the like. It is poled so as to ofier negligible resistance to the flow of current from negative battery 32. It is particularly pointed out that the Voltage of negative battery 32 is reduced by the effect of resistance 20 connected in series in this circuit. The resultant voltage impressed on the windings of relays 42 to 45 is such that relays 42 and 43 do not operate. The magnitude of the voltage is sufi'icient, however, to operate relays 44 and 45. Although other selectin paths are connected to conductor Illa in parallel with the path through the windnigs of relays 42 to 45, no one of the other paths is effective to establish a selection at this time for reasons which will be made apparent below.

A circuit may now be traced from the bottom terminal of winding I6 through conductor Illa, contact 48, contact 49, hydrophone I, contact 50, contact 41 and conductor Illb to the top terminal of winding I5 of the secondary of transformer I3. Hydrophone I is thus connected to signaling station I4.

When the contacts of key 22 are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through negative battery 32, lamp 33, contacts of key 22, winding I6, conductor I 6a, coil 5| of inductance 94, windings of relays 52 and 53 in series, resistance 54 and rectifier 55 to ground I2. It is pointed out that resistance 20 is not connected in this circuit and that the magnitude of resistance 54 is relatively small. The rectifier 55 is poled so as to pass current from negative battery 32. Relays 52 and 53 are operated. A circuit may then be traced from the bottom terminal of winding I6 through conductor Illa, contact 51, hydrophone 2, contact 58 and conductor Illb to the top terminal of Winding I5. Hydrophone 2 is connected to the signaling station. Attention is called to the fact that the polarities of rectifiers 46 and 55 are the same so that when key 22 is pressed, a path is also established through the windings of relays 42 to 45. Since resistance 20 is removed from the circuit the magnitude of the voltage impressed across the relay windings is such that all of relays 42 to 45 operate. Contacts 41 and 48 are open and hydrophone I is disconnected from the line.

When the contacts of key 23 are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through positive battery 30, lamp 3|, resistance I9, contacts of key 23, coil I6, conductor Ilia, coil 60 of inductance 98, windings of relays 62, 63, 64, 65 in series and rectifier 66 to ground I2. The rectifier 66 is connected into this path in such manner that it presents a low resistance to current from positive battery 39. It is pointed out that resistance I9 is connected in series in the path extending through the windings 62 to 65. The magnitude of the potential of battery 30 is thus reduced. The potential impressed on the relay windings 62 to 65 is such that relays 64 and 65 operate. Relays 62 and 63 remain in the released condition. A circuit may then be traced from the bottom terminal of winding I6, conductor Illa, contact 69, contact Ill, hydrophone 3, contact 68, contact 61 and conductor I01) to the top terminal of winding I connecting hydrophone 3 to selecting station I4.

When the contacts of key 24 are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through positive battery 30, lamp 3I, contacts of key 24, winding 16, conductor Iila, coil 80 of inductance I92, windings of relays 82 and 83 in series, resistance 24 and rectifier 85 to ground l2. Rectifier 85 is poled so as to present a low resistance to current from positive battery 35. Attention is called to the fact that resistance i9 is not connected in the selecting path extending through the windings of relays 82 and 83. The magnitude of resistance M is small. Substantially full potential of battery 30 is impressed across the windings of relays 82 and 83. Relays 82 and 83 operate. A circuit may then be traced from the bottom terminal of winding I5, conductor Iila, contact 8?, hydrophone 3, contact 86 and conductor It?) to the top terminal of winding I5. Hydrophone 4 is thus connected to signaling station I4.

When the contacts of key 25 are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through negative battery 32, lamp 33, resistance 20, contacts of key 25, upper winding I5 of the secondary of transformer I3, conductor Iilb, coil I62 of inductance I63, windings of relays I55, I55, I67, I68 and rectifier I69 to ground I2. poled so as to offer a low resistance to current from negative battery 32. The full voltage of battery 32 is reduced by the effect of the resistance 20 which is interposed in the series circuit. Relays I55 and IE5 remain in the released condition and relays i5! and IE8 operate. A circuit may then be traced from the bottom terminal of winding is through conductor IIJa, contact H2, contact I173, hydrophone 5, contact III, contact I?!) and conductor It?) to the top terminal of winding l5. Hydrophone 5 is connected to signaling station [4.

When the contacts of key 26 are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through negative battery 32, lamp 33, contacts of key 25, winding 15, conductor IDb, coil IBl) of inductance H5, windings of relays H2 and H3, resistance iii and rectifier H5 to ground I2. Rectifier H5 is connected into the circuit in such manner as to ofifer a low resistance to current from negative battery 32. The magnitude of resistance IM- is low. Substantially the full voltage of battery 32 is impressed across the windings of relays H2 and H3 to close the circuit to hydrophone 6. This circuit may be traced from the bottom terminal of winding I6 through conductor ma, con tact H'I, hydrophone 6, contact IIS andconductor IGb to the top terminal of winding I5.

When the contacts of key 2? are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through positive The rectifier I55 is battery 30, lamp 3|, resistance I9, contacts of key 21, winding I5, conductor Iflb, coil IQ!) of inductance I25, winding of relays I22, I23, I24, I25 and rectifier I26 to ground I2. Rectifier I26 is connected into the selecting path in such manner as to present a low resistance to current from positive battery 39. It is pointed out that resistance I9 is connected in series with the windings of relays I22 to I25. The magnitude of the voltage impressed across the windings of relays I22 to I25 is such that relays I24 and I25 operate. Relays I22 and I 23 remain released. A circuit may then be traced from the bottom terminal of winding I8, conductor Illa, contact I29, contact I 38, hydrophone I, contact I28, contact I21 and conductor Iflb to the top terminal of winding i5. Hydrophone l is thus connected to signaling station I4.

When the contacts of key 28 are closed, a circuit may be traced from ground through positive battery 30, lamp 3|, contacts of key 28, winding I5, conductor Ilib, coil I40 of inductance E95, windings of relays I42 and I23, resistance I54, and rectifier M5 to ground I2. The polarity oi rectifier I45 is such that. it ofiers a low resistance to current from positive battery 30. The magnitude of resistance I4; is small. It is pointed out that resistance I9 is not connected in the path through the windings of relays I42 and i 33. Substantially the full potential of battery 35 is impressed across the windings of relays I42 and I43 which operate to connect hydrophone 8 to signaling station I4. A circuit may be traced from the bottom terminal of winding l6, conductor I (la, contact I41, hydrophone 8, contact I46 and conductor It?) to the top terminal of winding 5 5.

When no potential of either polarity and of either magnitude is impressed on either one of conductors Ella and Ilib, hydrophone 9 is connected to signaling station E i. A circuit may be traced from the bottom terminal of winding 56 through conductor Hm, contact 258, contact hydrophone 9, contact I51, contact I55 and conductor IBZ) to the top terminal of winding i5. When potential of either polarity and either magnitude is impressed on conductor Ifia, a circuit extends through coil lQl of inductance Hi8 and the windings of relays I53 and 54 to ground I2 operating relays i513 and I54. This disconnects hydrophone 9 from signaling station H. When battery of either polarity and either magnitude is impressed 0n conductor l-Lb, a circuit extends through coil I55 of inductance W8 and the windings of relays 552 and I55 to ground t2 operating relays I52 and I55. Contacts I55 and I59 are opened, disconnecting hydrophone 9 from signaling station I4.

From the above, it should be apparent that the invention herein is a system wherein any one of nine hydrophone stations may be selected for connection to a signaling station over a two-conductor cable. One of the nine stations is normally connected to the cable and is disconnected automatically when any of the other eight stations is selected. Four of these eight stations are selected by impressing positive or negative battery on one of the two conductors and the remaining four of the eight stations are selected by connecting positive or negative battery to the other of the two conductors. Of the four stations selected by impressing positive or negative battery on a particular conductor, two are selected by impressing positive battery on the hydrophone selecting mechanism and the remaining two are selected by impressing negative battery on the selectin mechanism. Of each of the two stations in each group of four selected by positive battery, one is selected by positive battery of high potential and the other by positive battery of low potential. Of the two stations in each group of four selected by negative battery impressed on a particular conductor, one is selected by negative battery of high potential and the other by negative battery of low potential.

Refer now to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows an alternative selecting arrangement for a hydrophone at a particular selecting point. Electrically, it corresponds to thearrangement shown for selecting station I in Fig. 1. Instead of ordinary relays, however, in Fig. 3 each individual pair of relay contacts is enclosed in an individual seal such as an envelope of glass or the like. Relays having such contact protective arrangements are well known in the art. The employment of relays having contacts enclosed in separate impervious envelopes, in addition to the impervious sheath which encloses the cable conductors and the selecting mechanism, provides additional protection against failure due to moisture and fine silt, etc.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a hydrophone selecting system, a submarine cable having a grounded impervious sheath, two conductors only in said cable, eight hydrophones spaced individually along said cable, four individual selecting mechanisms for a first four of said eight hydrophones effectively connected to a first one of said conductors, four individual selecting mechanisms for a second four of said eight hydrophones effectively connected to a second one of said conductors, a high voltage enabling relay and a low voltage disabling relay in a first two of each of said four mechanisms, a high voltage enabling relay in a second two of each of said four mechanisms, a single rectifier in each of said eight mechanisms and an individual circuit for each of said mechanisms, said circuit extending from said grounded sheath through said rectifier and through an individual winding of all of the relays in an individual mechanism all in series, responsive to voltage of one of two magnitudes and of a particular polarity impressed on one or another of said two conductors, to selectively connect any particular one of said eight hydrophones to both of said two conductors.

2. A system in accordance with the preceding claim including a ninth hydrophone having an individual selecting mechanism, means for connecting said ninth hydrophone efiectively to said conductors when none of said eight hydrophones is efiectively connected to said conductors and means for effectively disconnecting said ninth hydrophone from said conductors when any of said eight hydrophones is effectively connected to said conductors.

3. In a submarine cable hydrophone selecting system, a cable having a first and a second conductor enclosed in a grounded impervious sheath, eight hydro-phones distributed along said cable, a first four selecting ircuits each having the winding of a high potential responsive relay and a rectifier in series, each of said circuits connected individually between said conductors and said sheath, two of said first four circuits connected effectively to each of said conductors, a second four selecting circuits each having the winding of a high potential responsive relay, the winding of a low potential responsive relay and a rectifier in series, each of said second four circuits connected individually between said conductors and said sheath, two of said second four circuits connected effectively to each of said conductors, sources of positive and negative high and low potential, a first four control means for impressing said potentials selectively on said first conductor, a second four control means for impressing said potentials selectively on said second conductor, means comprising th poling of said rectifiers, responsive to the actuation of any particular one of said control means for actuating a corresponding one of said selecting circuits, and means responsive to the actuating of said selecting circuit for connecting a corresponding one of said hydrophones between said first and said second conductors.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3, a ninth hydrophone, a ninth selecting circuit and means in said ninth selecting circuit for connecting said ninth hydrophone between said first and said second conductor when no potential is impressed on either of said conductors.

JOHN B. RETALLACK. 

